Welcome

Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and
others concerned about HIV/AIDS. Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the
conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning: Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive
and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a
username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own
physician.

All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators
of these forums. Click here for “Am I Infected?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please
provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are
true and correct to their knowledge.

Author
Topic: Which puppy should I get?!!!! (Read 12159 times)

I've been a cat person my whole adult life, adopting a total of five shelter cats since I moved to NYC in 1983, including the two we live with now. My bf has been pushing me for years to add a puppy to our family, so in two weeks, we're going to buy one of the yellow lab puppies shown below.

First off, please no guilt trips about buying from a breeder -- I've done my part rescuing shelter pets over many years. The primary reason I'm using a breeder for the first time is because I'm very nervous about getting the best possible match (temperament, trainability, size, gets along w/ cats, etc.) for this really big change in our lives.

So here's a description of the 3 puppies we can choose from (all girls), provided by the breeder:

There are two light ones and one dark one. The lightest one is the puppy with the most energy. She really is a pistol. The darkest puppy is the sweetest mellowest puppy in the litter. The next to lightest one is very sweet and affectionate, but still has some zip. The lightest puppy may be quite a bit more work to get started. She is very independent and strong willed. The darkest just wants to be someone's baby and the next to lightest one is somewhere in between the two.

The one in the middle, of course.But...have to echo comment by Mouse...why a lab? So energetic. You did your research so you know they are 'working dogs' and will LOTS of energy to burn in those first months--till training classes help channel all that love.A wonderful breed, kind to all but the mean/dangerous type folks.

you really need at least 2 dogs. Whose going to play with poor Bumble when she's home alone? Like the others have said, labs have lots of energy and love to play. Let them play with each other all day so when you come home, they'll be plumb tuckered out and leave you be.

One of the benefits of working with a breeded instead of getting a dog from the animal shelter is the breeders knowledge of the puppy's bloodlines. My Kaiser came running up the stairs and jumped up on my bed in 1997 and I always heard about German Shephards and Hip Dysplacia but I was not prepared for that dogs painful death last Thanksgiving, he could not walk and I could not carry him during his last week living.

I was thinking about getting a Golden Lab because they are nice and so full of love. German Shephards, Golden Labs and Black Labs are at the top of the list for developing Hip Dysplacia. First, I would ask myself if I would be physically capable of carrying a full grown big dog in and out in 12 years. I have been outside three times already today to talk to the pile of dirt where Kaiser is buried. Second, I would talk to the breeder about the history of that bloodline and Hip Dysplacia and other potential mobility issues. After those were answered, I would take the puppy in the middle. Have the best dayMichael

They're sad because they're about to enter an unclean house infested with AIDS.

Gasp! Phillicia, you need to be spanked hard for that comment. And why does anyone think they are sad? They are not sad. They are doing their 'adopt me' pose to entice pity and longing in humans.If you were within arms length of 'em they'd show you, alright.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

you really need at least 2 dogs. Whose going to play with poor Bumble when she's home alone? Like the others have said, labs have lots of energy and love to play. Let them play with each other all day so when you come home, they'll be plumb tuckered out and leave you be.

Robert -- I work from home (and am only working part-time these days), so there will be very little time when the dog is alone.

I know a lab can be a handful, but as adults, they're actually pretty relaxed and adaptable as far as breeds go. We live on a lake, so having a water-loving breed made sense as well.

Peter, All three a too cute to choose from... the lab breed makes for a great companion... since you have room for the dog and the breed loves water... its going to be a hard to choose... see which one gravitates towards you and your partner. A good book to use as reference... "Leader of the Pack" it helped me with my dog... Enjoy many years of a true unconditional love of a friend... John

"The Bible contains 6 admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn`t mean that God doesn`t love heterosexuals. It`s just that they need more supervision." -- Lynn Lavne

Peter, All three a too cute to choose from... the lab breed makes for a great companion... since you have room for the dog and the breed loves water... its going to be a hard to choose... see which one gravitates towards you and your partner. A good book to use as reference... "Leader of the Pack" it helped me with my dog... Enjoy many years of a true unconditional love of a friend... John

John -- that book sounds like the same school of thought from those Dog Whisperer shows, which I've enjoyed watching recently. Thanks for the tip.

I'd pick the middle one, but I'm biased as I've had goldens forever. From experience I can tell you that all retrievers make wonderful pets and they get along very well with other animals. Mac, my last golden, would curl up on the floor and my cats would just climb aboard for a snooze. The only strange thing I noticed, when first mixing dogs and cats, is that both breeds sometimes get confused as to what they are. I have cats that sleep under the covers and a dog who thinks she can climb trees. What a hoot they are and I guarantee that nothing can cheer you up faster, than a big happy face and fiercely wagging tail. The only caution I have for you is to train which ever dog to not jump on people, as a large dog can do a lot of damage.

My best advice for picking one, is to just sit on the floor with all three and play with them and one of them will pierce your heart... decision made. Also, unlike cats, dogs are pack animals and very social, so if you really have the room, consider getting two of them and they will have best friends for life.

You are my instant friend!!! I love Corgi's and will get one next year hopefully.

That said, these labs are adorable. I vote the one on the right too. For some reason it jumps out at me as the sort of dog I can see you with Peter. I don't mean that to sound like I know you, but just your photograph. don't ask me why....it just looks like it should be with you.

Good luck! I am very jealous and excited for you!

R

Logged

NB. Any advice about HIV is given in addition to your own medical advice and not intended to replace it. You should never make clinical decisions based on what anyone says on the internet but rather check with your ID doctor first. Discussions from the internet are just that - Discussions. They may give you food for thought, but they should not direct you to do anything but fuel discussion.

I was digging around and found this site www.largedogbreedz.com and found the Golden Lab is generally healthy. It is the Labrador Retriever which is prone to hip dysplacia as I had stated earlier as that information came from 1 800 pet meds. Have the best dayMichael(who still likes the puppy in the middle)

They are all so cute!!! I have a yellow lab. She will be two years old later this year. She was pretty white when we got her but her color did change. Now she is white and and pink-ish brown. The people we got her from said she was very mellow. Maybe she was mellow for a few days but she just bursts with energy, all the time. She is almost too smart for her own good. We trained her to respond to voice commands and hand gestures. She also has to go out and pee more than any other dog I've ever had. Once she got older, she would get extremely excited around other people. A small water spray bottle worked wonders for her. She loves the water but only on her terms. I could go on and on about her and our other five dogs!

It's so good that you will be with her much of the time. They really do have a lot of energy, so have fun shopping for doggy toys (stay away from the rope toys, mine would try and eat them and poop rainbow colored string, which could have been a disaster!). Have fun and I look forward to more pictures.

Logged

Diagnosed July 28th 2003

'I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.' -Diande Ackerman

'Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?' -Frank Scully

I'm with dixieman, Peter... they're all cute, so you can't go wrong... the important thing is which one gells with you and your partner... you need to go and meet them for that... when you do, I'm sure one will jump out and grab both your hearts.

I voted for the "sweet with zip". We had a chow / lab mix. Very smart and loyal dog, but very big. I think you need at least two, too. But then the 3rd would feel left out. So, my vote is really for you to take all 3.

Jan, what a great puppy. We're in the market for a Chinese Crested. It's the only dog #6 isn't allergic to.

We're driving to western PA on the 16th to pick her up. The breeder wanted us to pick now, because he thinks all but one or two will be chosen by then.

We picked one for now (I'm not saying which), but hope there will be a choice when we get there.

I'll let everyone know which one we got once we've got her home. So exciting!

the 16th? thats like... 11 days away!!! don't keep us in suspense, thats just mean!! :-)

J

Logged

"The Bible contains 6 admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn`t mean that God doesn`t love heterosexuals. It`s just that they need more supervision." -- Lynn Lavne

As usual, Ray is right. We told the breeder we're interested in the one on the left. We're ready for the challenge of her being a "pistol," and we love her light shading (although we realize this might change).

If we still have the option of picking from two or three puppies once we arrive, then we remain open to choosing a different one based on our first impressions.

I'm still very nervous about all of this, having been a cat person my whole adult life, but I'm also very excited by it all.

As usual, Ray is right. We told the breeder we're interested in the one on the left. We're ready for the challenge of her being a "pistol," and we love her light shading (although we realize this might change).

If we still have the option of picking from two or three puppies once we arrive, then we remain open to choosing a different one based on our first impressions.

I'm still very nervous about all of this, having been a cat person my whole adult life, but I'm also very excited by it all.

It'll all work out fine :-) with three cats, that dog is going to have so many identity issues!

Do you have a video camera, so you can upload something to youtube... "puppy meets 3 cat household"?!? :-D

J

Logged

"The Bible contains 6 admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn`t mean that God doesn`t love heterosexuals. It`s just that they need more supervision." -- Lynn Lavne

Labs are wonderful beings, Peter. My brother Gene has two of them -- brothers - and they are wonderful together.

Whatever the challenges I know you guys are going to have a great time absorbing her into your family. My son Ben has a wonderful stray pittbull mix whom he rescued 6 years ago. The two cats he has definitely still run the roost and they have all long since settled into being a family. It's going to be fascinating and hilarious at times to witness how "the new baby" becomes a part of the family.

Peter which ever you got they will love unconditionally so it is a hard choice to make.I am glad I did not have to choose Missy I fell in love with the moment I saw her.Of course some times I think she is demon spawn that's why Mark said that I give birth to her.She is a Chihuahua with the color coat of a German Shepherd and if you have ever watched Gremlins the one they called Spike she has just enough white hair on the top of her head.Put a little gel and you have Missy Spike.She keeps me on my toes only problem with that is with neuropathy she likes to try to bite my feet.Not hard but that hurts anyway but in her defence she don,t know any better.Enjoy the puppy training.Scooter